Aloo, Begun, Seem, Kumro aar Sojne Da(n)ta-r Chorchori aka Simple Vegetable Combo

Summer days are making life unbearable. Temperatures are on the rise. So also the temperature of the Cricket fever of India is getting hotter. By now the news has spread far and wide about the betting going on for the IPL matches. Huh! How much money can satisfy the needs of a human? Running after money is good as long as it is hard earned – but…

Better to remain silent as I don’t watch the cricket matches these days for the bugle had already sounded many many many … how many many’s will I write to satisfy this small mind.

Moving out of all this trash, I’m getting back to a comfort summer dish for lunch. This is a soothing side dish for lunch. Nothing much, a peep into the fridge and the most common veggie is there to complete the preparation. Some may not have the Sojne Da(n)ta/ Drumsticks, but this is the one that adds more taste to it.

I’ve been cutting the sojne da(n)ta and storing them in my deep freezer, and it has remained fresh for days. Out from there and it goes into my Chorchori.

Get the vegetables ready in proportion of:

Potatoes/Aloo: 2 small ones, peeled, washed and cut into small cubes

Red Pumpkin/Kumro: 200 grams sized like the potatoes

Begun/Egg plant/Aubergine : 2 cut like the aloo and kumro

Seem/Broad beans: 7-8, cut into half

Sojne da(n)ta/drumsticks: 3-4, cut into 2 inch size

Tomato: 1 chopped

Next the other ingredients:

Haldi powder: ¾ tsp.

Red chilli powder: ½ tsp.

Salt to taste

Sugar: ½ a tsp. optional

Cooking oil 1 ½ tsp.

Panch phoron ( a combination of 5 spices): ! ½ tsp

Now the cooking part:

Heat oil in the kadhai/wok. Then throw in the panch phoron. The spices will dance and crackle and then put in the vegetables except the Sojne da(n)ta/drum sticks. Stir and fry for 3-4 of minutes over medium flame. Now add the turmeric and red chilli powder. Stir and fry for a couple of minutes. Add salt and sugar and the Sojne da(n)ta/drum sticks. Cover and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes. 

By now the begun/eggplant and the pumpkin/kumro will release water. Remove the cover and stir from time-to-time over low flame. Carry on cooking in this way and soon the vegetables will become soft. By the time it has taken aother 7-10 minutes, the Chorchori will be ready to be served.

This chorchori tastes good with bhat, patla dal and some aamer tak/mango chutney as the first helping. Next you can serve your bhari-bharkam dishes to satisfy the palate. And there, everyone must have enjoyed your simple dish which is healthy because so little oil has been used and not spicy at all. One healthy dish for the day…praise or no praise, no matter as long the cook is satisfied. Never mind if no one says a big WOW!

© gouriguha 2013